Wringer assembly having interconnected roll pressure and drive



Mgrch 25, 1952 w BEUSCHER 2,590,494

WRINGER ASSEMBLY HAVING INTERCONNECTED ROLL PRESSURE AND DRIVE Filed May23, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 25, 1952 w. B. BEUSCHER 2,590,494

WRINGER ASSEMBLY HAVING INTERCONNECTED ROLL PRESSURE AND DRIVE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1949 March 25, 1952 w BEUSCHER 2,590,494

WRINGER ASSEMBLY HAVING INTERCONNECTED ROLL PRESSURE AND DRIVE Filed May23, 1949 s Sheets -Shet 5 III Ill

W/Z/Wey.

Patented Mar. 25, 1952 t JRINGER ASSEMBLY HAVING INTERCON- NECTED ROLLPRESSURE AND DRIVE William B. Beuscher, Kansas City, Mo., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Appliance Engineering 00., Kansas City, M0,, acorporation of Missouri Application May 23, 1949, Serial No. 94,807

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wringerassemblies for washing machines, and has particular reference to aclutch release mechanism for breaking the driving connection to therolls of the wringer.

In household washing machines of the wringer type, it is common practiceto place a release handle closely adjacent the wringer rolls. Should anyportion of the operators clothing or anatomy be caught between thewringer rolls, he presses said release handle to release the pressureurging said rolls together and to permit said rolls to separate, therebypreventing or minimizing the bodily injury which would otherwise result.However, the rolls continue to rotate, and further injury to theoperator may occur, due either to the fact'that the separation ofthewringer rolls is not sufficient to permit the operator to withdraw theportion of his body caught therebetween, or to the fact that theoperators hair, or loose clothing may have become wrapped about thedriven roll, and therefore can not be released merely by separating therolls. The principal object of the present invention is, therefore, theprovision of a wringer assembly having a release handle which whenoperated breaks the driving connection to saidlrolls.

Another object is the provision of. awringer asbly having a releasehandle disposed conveniently to the wringer rolls and which whenoperatedboth releases the pressure urging the rolls together andpermits' their separation, and also breaks the driving connection tosaid rolls,

' Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, convenienceand dependability of operation, and adaptability for use with varioustypes'of washing machines.

With these objects in view, as well as otherobjects'which'will appear inthe course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a washing machine includinga wringer assembly embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the washin machine shown in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line IIIIII of Fig.v2, showing the wringer locking handle in its operative position in solidlines and in its released position in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line I;V-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5- is a fragmentary section taken on line V-V of Fig. 3.

3 Claims. (Cl. 68-253) Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section takenon line VIVI of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, somewhat irregular, sec tion taken on lineVII'VII of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged irregular fragmentary section taken on lineVIII--VIII of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is an irregular fragmentary section taken on line IXIX of Fig.'7, showing the clutch release mechanism in its inoperative position insolid lines, and in its tripped or operative position in dotted lines.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the severalviews, and the numeral 2 applies to a washing machine of the ordinaryhousehold type including an open-topped tub or tank 4 in which isoperatively mounted an agitator member ii. A wringer drive shaft 8extends vertically adjacent the side of tub 4, andis adapted to berotatably driven by the same motor or other power unit, not shown, whichdrives agitator 6. Said drive shaft is carried in a non-rotating tubularhousing [0 which extends above the upper end of shaft 8 and which isfixed adjacent its upper end in a bracket l2 rigidly fixed to' the outersurface of tub 4 adjacent the top thereof. Said bracket is provided witha planar horizontal portion forming an index plate I4 through whichshaft housing I0 extends, and through which are formed a plurality ofholes [6, said holes being circumferentially spaced about a circleconcentric with said shaft housing.

Wringer head I8 is mounted on the upwardly extended end portion of shafthousing I0. Said' wringer head includes a flat, substantiallycylindrical housing 20 having its axis disposed horizontally and havingoutwardly convex cover plates 22 removably inserted in the ends thereof.Said housing is provided with a downwardly projecting radial extension24 bored to present a socket 26 adapted to fit rotatably over the upperend portion of shaft housing ID, as best shown in Fig. 3,

whereby the wringer may be rotated about a vertical axis. At its lowerend, extension 24 is enlarged to present an apron 28 of sufficientlylarge diameter to encompass holes IS in index plate l4. A pair ofparallel, spaced apart side walls 30 extend to the left from extension24 of the housing as viewed in Fig. 1. Said side walls are integral withthe housing, are vertical, and extend flush with the left edge ofcylindrical housing l8.

Disposed between said side walls is a vertical,

index pin 32 carried for vertical sliding movement in tubular bearing 34formed integrally with the housing and extending to the lower edge ofapron 28. The upper end portion of said index pin is carried slidably ina notch 36 formed in a horizontal wall 38 extending between side walls30. A helical compression spring 40 is disposed about pin 32, bearing atits upper end against wall 38 and at its lower end against a pin 42inserted transversely through said index pin, Thus the index pin isurged downwardly, and normally extends downwardly to engage one of holesI6 in index plate I4 to secure the wringer head against rotation. Saidindex pin may be elevated against the pressure of spring 40 by means ofa release handle 44 pivoted between side walls intermediate its ends bypivot pin 46. Said handle is generally vertically disposed, and isprovided with an inwardly extending arm 48 adapted at its inher end toengage a notch 50 formed in index pin 32.

Wringer head housing 20 is provided with divergent side walls 52extending to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. The wringer frame comprisesessentially side channel members 54 and 56 and a bottom channel member58 extendin between and rigidly connecting said side channels. Sidechannel 54 is rigidly connected to wringer head housing 20 by means ofbracket 60. Said bracket is fixed to channel member 54 and is providedwith upwardly extending ears 62 adapted to en'- gage holes 64 formed ina wall 66 extending between side walls 52. At its lower end bracket 60is adapted to be secured to housing wall 58 by screw I0. Lower wringerroll I2 extends horizontally between side channel members 54 and 56,being carried on a shaft 14 journaled in bearing block I6 disposed insaid side channel members and resting in bottom channel member 58. Upperwringer roll 18 rests on lower roll 12, and is carried on a shaft 80journaled in bearing blocks 82 carried for vertical sliding movement inside channel members 54 and 56. A leaf spring 84 bears at its respectiveend portions against the upper surfaces of bearing blocks 82. A top rail86 having the form of a downwardly opening channel extendslongitudinally over the wringer. A vertical screw 88 is carriedadjustably by said top rail, and bears at its lower end against themidpoint of spring 84. Said screw may be turned by means of a handle 90carried at the upper end thereof, thereby adjusting the tension ofspring 84 and hence the pressure between wringer rolls I2 and I8.

At its inner end top rail 86 extends over the top of wringer headhousing 20. A bracket 92 welded or otherwise fixed to the inner surfaceof top rail 86 adjacent the inner end thereof is provided with spacedapart holes 94 for pivotally engaging books 96 formed at the upper endof the upwardly extending arm 98 of bell-crank lever I00. Said lever iscarried pivotally on a horizontal pivot pin I02 carried by housing 20.At its outer end top rail 86 is pivotally connected to wringer lockinghandle I04 by means of transverse horizontal pivot pin I06. Said handlehas the form of an inwardly opening channel normally lying against theouter surface of side channel member 56. A toggle link I08 disposedwithin handle I04 is pivotally connected at its lower end to said handleby pivot pin H0, and is pivotally struck. out from frame channel 56, bymeans of pivot pin II4, Thus whenever handle I04 is pivoted downwardlyabout pivot pin I06 until pivot pin IIO passes inside the planecontaining pivot pins I06 and II4, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, alocking toggle joint is formed which holds the associated end of toprail 86 down.

Release handles II6 are arranged along opposite sides of top rail 86,extending substantially the full length of the wringer rolls. At eachend, each of said release handles is provided with an ear I I8 whichpivotally engages a slot I20 formed therefore in top rail 86. The sidewalls I22 of locking handle I04 extend upwardly and inwardly from pivotpin I06, lying against the outer surfaces of top rail 86, and the endportions of said extensions are turned outwardly from said top rail toform tabs I24 which are engaged by release handles I I6 at points spacedapart from the top rail, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. When theoperator catches his clothing or person between the wringer rolls, hepushes downwardly on either of release handles II6. This release handle,acting on one of tabs I24 of locking handle I04, pivots said lockinghandle outwardly about pivot pin I06, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.3. This breaks the toggle connection formed by link I08, permitting toprail 86 to move upwardly. This relieves the pressure between the wringerrolls, and permits the rolls to separate. The wringer pressure releasemechanism thus far disclosed is standard, and no claim is made theretoexcept with the clutch release mechanism hereinafter described.

A vertical shaft I26 extends diametrically through cylindrical housing20, being rotatably supported in a bearing tube I28 formed integrallywith housing 20 at the top thereof, and in a bearing tube I30 formedintegrally with said housing at the bottom thereof. Said shaft extendsdownwardly into drive shaft housing I0, and is slotted at its lower endto engage a tongue I32 formed at the upper end of drive shaft 8. ShaftI26 thus is turned by and forms an extension of shaft 8. Shaft I26 isretained in housing 20 by a pin I34 inserted horizontally throughbearing tube I28 and extending tangentially through a circumferentialgroove formed in said shaft.

Carried for free rotation of shaft I26 within housing 20 are a pair ofinwardly facing bevel gears I36 and I38. Said gears mesh withdiametrically opposite portions of a bevel gear I40. Gear I40 isrotatable about a horizontal axis at right angles to shaft I26 andcoaxial with shaft I4 of wringer roll I2, having an outwardly projectinghollow tubular hub I42 rotatably disposed in a bearing tube I44 formedintegrally with housing 20. Wringer roll shaft I4 extends into hub I42and is slotted to engage planar bar I46 fixed in said hub, wherebyrotation of gear I40 will driv the wringer rolls.

A clutch member I48 i carried for longitudinal sliding movement on shaftI26 between bevel gears I36 and I38 but is secured against rotation onsaid shaft by key I50. Said clutch member is provided at each end withlongitudinally projecting lugs I52. Corresponding lugs I54 are providedon the inner faces of gears I36 and I38. It will be seen in Fig. 3 thatwhen clutch member I48 is disposed centrally between gears I36 and I38,the lugs I52 of said clutch member do not engage lugs I54 of eithergear. This is the neutral position. When clutch member I48 is movedupwardly, the lugs thereof engage and drive gear I36, thus turning gearI40 and shaft 14 to turn the wringer rolls in one direction. When clutchmember I48 is moved downwardly, it engages and drives gear I38. GearsI36 and I38 of course turn in the same direction, but since gear I 38engages gear I40 on the opposite side from gear I36, gear I40 and shaft14 Will be thereby turned in the opposite direction to reverse thedirection of rotation of the wringer.

I Clutch member I48 may be moved upwardly and downwardl along shaft I26by means of control shaft I56 coaxial with gear I40 and carriedrotatably in a bearing tube I58 formed integrally with housing 20 at theleft side thereof. At its inner end said shaft carries a crank I60,which carries at its free end a crank pin I62 which is parallel to andeccentrically disposed relative to shaft I56. A bearing block 164carried rotatably on said crank pin is-carried slidably in a peripheralgroove I66 formed in clutch member I48. Thu by turning shaft I56 througha half revolution, clutch member I48 may be, movedto its: central, orneutral position, and to its upper and-lower driving positions. ShaftI56 may be turned by means of a handle I68 secured to the outwardlyextended end thereof. Handle I68; and release handle 44- by means ofWhich index pin 32 is controlled, areso related that handle 44 can notbe operated except when handle I68 is in its neutral position. Thisrelationship, which is a safety feature, is fully described and claimedin my copending application, Serial No. 74,969, filed February '1, 1949.

A second crank I is carried on shaft I56 just behind crank I60, saidsecond crank being disposed at right angles to crank. I60 so as toextend vertically downwardly when clutch member I46 is in its neutralposition as in Figs. 3, 6 and 8, and so that it extends horizontally ineither direction when said clutch member is in its upperorlowerdrivingposition, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 9. A clutchrelease plate I12 disposed within housing 29 and in the same verticalplane ascrankl'l'fl, is carried for vertical sliding movementinfguideways I14 formed on a central web I16 integral with housing 20.The lower edge of said clutch plate is normally disposed above shaft I56so as not to interfere with the motion of crank I10, as shown in Fig. 8,and has a notch I18 formed therein adapted to pass over the upperportion of crank I10 when the clutch plate is lowered by meanshereinafter described.

Referring principally to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 it will be noted thatbell-crank lever I 08, the extending arm 98 of which holds down the leftend of top rail 86, has a horizontally extending arm bifurcated topresent arms I80 which extend along opposite sides of bearing sleeveI28. Adjacent their free ends said arms pivotally engage notches I82formed in the transverse edges of clutch plate I 12, as best shown inFig.8.

A rod I84, best shown in Figs. 7 and 9, fits loosely in a hole providedtherefor in upwardly extending arm 98 of lever I00, and also fitsloosely in a hole provided therefore in wall I86 integral with housing20. A compression spring I90 carried on said rod bears at one endagainst lever arm 98 and at its opposite end against a pin I92 insertedtransversely through rod I84. Said spring constantly urges bell-cranklever I00 counterclockwise about pivot pin I02, a viewed in Figs. 3 and9, but said lever is normally restrained against turning by itsengagement with bracket 92 fixed to top rail 86.

The operation of the clutch release mechanism is substantially asfollows. When the operator presses either of release handles II6, thetoggle formed by link I08 and locking handle I04 is broken as previouslydescribed, releasing the pressure of spring 84 on the wringer rolls andpermitting top rail 86 to be moved pivotally upwardly about its point ofengagement with bellcrank lever I00. This also permits top rail 86 to bemoved to the left by the pressure of spring I .on lever I00, as shown indotted lines in Fig. '9. Lever I00 is thus pivoted counterclockwiseabout pivot pin I02, and arms I80 of said lever in turn force clutchrelease plate I12 downward- 1y. At this point clutch member I48 is ofcourse in either its upper or lower driving position, and crank I10extends horizontally forwardly or rearwardly.

As clutch release plate I12 is moved downwardly, it engages crank I10and turns-it so that it extends downwardly, as shown in-dotted lines inFig. 9. Clutch member I48 is thus returned to its neutral position, andthe wringer rolls cease. to turn. They can not again be set in operationuntil the operators hand, armor clothing has been removed from betweenthe rolls. the rolls again positioned by locking handle I04, and handleI68 operated manually to reengage the clutch. It will be noted thatrelease plate I1 locks crank I10 in the neutral position.

Thus a wringer assembly having several .desirable features has beenproduced. Besides-providing the usual pressure release, it provides aclutch release for breaking the driving connection to the wringer rolls.This provides further protection against injury in cases where link I08does not permit sufficient separation of the rolls to permit theoperator to withdraw his arm from between the rolls, and in cases wherethe operators clothing or hair becomes wrapped about wringer roll 12.The device is simple, economical, and extremely dependable in operation,and could be adapted with only minor variations to many existing typesof wringers.

Although I have disclosed a specific embodiment of my invention, it isapparent that many minor variations of construction and operation couldbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A wringer assembly for washing machines comprising a frame, a pair ofwringer rolls carried rotatably by said frame in parallel relation, awringer drive housing secured to the inner end of said frame, a top railextending over the upper of said wringer rolls and over said drivehousing, a resilient member disposed between said top rail and saidupper roll whereby said upper roll is urged against the lower of saidwringer rolls, a power driving connection extending through said drivehousing to the lower wringer roll, suitable clutch means within saidhousing for making, breaking, or reversing said driving connection, atoggle joint connecting the outer end of said top rail with said frameand normally securing said top rail against upward or longitudinalmovement, a release handle carried by said top rail and manuallyoperable to break said toggle joint to permit upward and longitudinalmovement of said top rail, a lever pivotally carried in said drivehousing and having one of its arms secured to the inner end portion ofsaid top rail to hold said rail down, pivotal movement of said leverbeing normally prevented by its engagement with said top rail, and meansoperable by said lever whenever said top rail is freed by operation ofsaid release handle to return said clutch means to its neutral position.

2. A wringer assembly for washing machines comprising a frame, a pair ofwringer rolls carried rotatably by said frame in parallel relation, awringer drive housing secured to the inner end of said frame, a top railextending over the upper of said wringer rolls and over said drivehousing, a resilient member disposed between said top rail and saidupper roll whereby said upper roll is urged against the lower of saidwringer rolls, a power driving connection extending through said drivehousing to the lower wringer roll, suitable clutch means within saidhousing for making, breaking, or reversing said driving connection, amanually rotatable shaft carried by said drive housing, means operableby said shaft for operating said clutch means, a crank mounted rigidlyon said shaft, a clutch plate carried slidably by said housing andadapted to engage and turn said crank to move said clutch to its neutralposition, a bell-crank lever pivotally carried in said housing, saidlever having one arm operably engaging said clutch plate and another armpivotally secured to the inner end portion of said top rail to hold saidtop rail down, resilient means urging said lever to move said clutchplate to its operative position, said lever normally being securedagainst rotation by its engagement with said top rail, a toggle jointconnecting the outer end of said top rail with said frame to hold saidtop rail against upward or longitudinal movement, and a release handlecarried by said top rail and manually operable to break said togglejoint.

3. A wringer assembly for washing machines comprising a frame, a pair ofwringer rolls carried rotatably by said frame in parallel relation, awringer drive housing secured to the inner end of said frame, a top railextending over the upper of said wringer rolls andover said drivehousing, a resilient member disposed between said top 'rail and saidupper rollwhereby said upper roll is urged against the lower of saidwringer rolls, a power driving connection extending through said drivehousing to the lower wringer roll, suitable clutch means within saidhousing for making, breaking, or reversing said driving connection,releasable means for securing the outer end of said top rail to saidframe and normally securing said top rail against upward movement orinward longitudinal movement toward said clutch housing, means formanually releasing said releasable connection to permit upward andinward longitudinal movement of said top rail, a lever pivotally mountedin said housing on an axis transverse to said top rail and having anupwardly extending arm pivotally secured at its upper end to said toprail to hold said top rail against upward movement, resilient meansurging said lever pivotally in a direction longitudinal to said top railand toward the inner end thereof, said lever normally being securedagainst pivotal movement by its engagement with said top rail, and meansoperable by the pivotal movement of said lever when said top rail isreleased for longitudinal movement to return said clutch to its neutralposition and to lock said clutch in its neutral position.

WILLIAM B. BEUSCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,202,778 Kaufiman May 28, 19402,307,337 Schroeder Jan. 5, 1943 2,330,480 Etten Sept. 28, 19432,336,233 Dunham Dec. 7, 1943 2,369,333 Bottinelli Feb. 13, 19452,371,380 Cammack Mar. 13, 1945 2,446,477 Kauffman Aug. 3, 1948

